WLUK-TV
A Green Bay, Wisconsin television station and Fox affiliate serving northeastern Wisconsin.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WLUK-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and serving the Green Bay–Appleton market and surrounding communities. It broadcasts on virtual channel 11 and is affiliated with the Fox network. The station operates under the FOX 11 brand and combines network programming with locally produced news, weather, sports, lifestyle, and public-service content. Its studios are located on Lombardi Avenue along the Green Bay–Ashwaubenon line, while its transmitter is situated on Scray Hill in Ledgeview. The station began broadcasting on September 10, 1954, as WMBV-TV. It was initially licensed to Marinette and affiliated with NBC. The call sign reflected the Marinette, Bay, and Valley area. In 1958, ownership changed to Morgan Murphy Stations. A major market and affiliation realignment followed in 1959: WMBV exchanged network affiliations with WFRV-TV, became an ABC affiliate, moved its city of license to Green Bay, and adopted the WLUK-TV call letters. The letters were associated with the station's 'Lucky 11' positioning. WLUK also moved to full-power transmission from a new tower near Green Bay and began carrying network programming in color that year, followed by local color production in 1965. Post Corporation acquired the station in 1965. During this period, WLUK developed local entertainment programming, including a polka program and a children's cartoon show featuring the licensed Bozo the Clown character. The station also occupied studios on Highland Avenue, a street later renamed Lombardi Avenue. WLUK returned to NBC in April 1983 after WFRV switched to ABC. The station passed through Gillett Broadcasting and Burnham Broadcasting during the 1980s, but its second NBC period was relatively restrained in promotional emphasis compared with some other major-network affiliates. A defining transformation occurred in the mid-1990s. Burnham sold WLUK to SF Broadcasting, a venture associated with Savoy Communications and Fox, in 1994. After regulatory review, WLUK changed from NBC to Fox on August 28, 1995, exchanging affiliations with WGBA-TV. Fox's acquisition of National Football Conference rights gave the station a particularly strong relationship with the Green Bay Packers. Packers telecasts, including Super Bowl XXXI and Super Bowl XLV, became central to WLUK's audience identity and local market importance. The station also carried Fox's children's programming blocks for many years, including Fox Kids, Fox Box, and 4KidsTV. Ownership later moved to Emmis Communications, LIN TV Corporation, and then Sinclair Broadcast Group. LIN acquired WLUK in 2005 and subsequently built a duopoly with CW affiliate WCWF, which it operated and later purchased. Sinclair acquired WLUK and WCWF in December 2014 as part of a transaction connected with the LIN Media–Media General merger and related FCC ownership requirements. Sinclair remains the station's owner. In addition to Fox network programming, WLUK provides extensive local news and weather coverage, lifestyle programming such as Living with Amy, and Packers-related programs including Inside the Huddle. Its current positioning is that of a locally focused Fox station whose strongest differentiators are regional news, severe-weather information, community coverage, and access to Packers programming.
History
WLUK-TV traces its origins to WMBV-TV, a VHF station approved for channel 11 in 1953 and launched on September 10, 1954. M & M Broadcasting Company established the station with an NBC affiliation. The original license was associated with Marinette, Wisconsin, and the call letters referred to Marinette, Bay, and Valley. Morgan Murphy Stations acquired the station in 1958. In 1959, WMBV exchanged affiliations with WFRV-TV and became an ABC station. It also transferred its city of license to Green Bay and adopted the WLUK-TV call sign. The new identity was connected with the station's 'Lucky 11' promotional slogan. WLUK began full-power operation from a new Green Bay-area tower and introduced network broadcasts in color in 1959. Local programming followed in color during the middle of the 1960s. Post Corporation purchased the station in 1965 and operated it alongside other media properties, including the Post-Crescent newspaper and WLUC-TV in Marquette, Michigan. Post-era WLUK carried locally oriented entertainment and children's programming in addition to network schedules. Examples included a Saturday polka program and a daily cartoon show using the Bozo the Clown franchise. The station's facilities were later established on Highland Avenue, which became Lombardi Avenue in 1968. WLUK returned to NBC on April 18, 1983, when WFRV moved to ABC. Ownership changed again during the 1980s, first through Gillett Broadcasting and then Burnham Broadcasting. Burnham sold WLUK to SF Broadcasting in 1994. SF Broadcasting was structured around Savoy Communications and Fox interests, and the transaction was examined by the FCC after NBC challenged the arrangement on foreign-investment and control grounds. The challenge was withdrawn, and regulatory approval was granted in April 1995. WLUK joined Fox on August 28, 1995, replacing WGBA as the market's Fox outlet while WGBA took NBC. The Fox affiliation fundamentally altered WLUK's commercial and programming profile. Fox had secured National Football Conference rights, including Green Bay Packers games, and WLUK became the market's principal Fox outlet for those broadcasts. Packers football, including the Packers' appearances in Super Bowls XXXI and XLV, became a defining ratings and branding asset. WLUK also carried Fox Kids and later Fox Box and 4KidsTV, while developing a larger local-news operation. Silver King Communications acquired the SF Broadcasting stations in the mid-1990s, and Emmis Communications purchased WLUK and related stations in 1997. Emmis announced the sale of its television portfolio in 2005 as it refocused on radio. LIN TV Corporation completed its acquisition of WLUK in December 2005. Under LIN, WLUK began providing operational and sales support to CW affiliate WIWB, later renamed WCWF, in 2010. LIN purchased WCWF in 2011 under a failing-station waiver, forming the first legal television duopoly in the Green Bay market. LIN's proposed 2014 merger with Media General created an ownership conflict because Media General also owned WBAY-TV, another major Green Bay station. To satisfy FCC ownership requirements, WLUK and WCWF were sold to Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair completed the acquisition on December 19, 2014. WLUK operates today as a Sinclair-owned Fox affiliate, with studios shared with WCWF and transmission facilities at Scray Hill in Ledgeview. Its service mix includes local news, weather, digital journalism, lifestyle programming, syndicated content, Fox network shows, and extensive Packers-related programming.
- 2014
Sinclair acquisition completed
[1]Sinclair Broadcast Group completed its acquisition of WLUK and WCWF on December 19.
- 2011
WCWF duopoly established
[1]LIN purchased WCWF under a failing-station waiver, creating a WLUK–WCWF duopoly.
- 2005
LIN TV acquisition
[1]LIN TV Corporation completed its purchase of WLUK from Emmis Communications.
- 1995
Fox affiliation begins
[1]WLUK switched from NBC to Fox on August 28, establishing its modern network identity.
- 1983
Return to NBC
[1]WLUK reclaimed the market's NBC affiliation after WFRV switched to ABC.
- 1959
Green Bay relocation and WLUK identity
[1]The station became an ABC affiliate, changed its city of license to Green Bay, adopted the WLUK-TV call sign, and moved to full-power transmission from a new tower.
- 1954
WMBV-TV begins broadcasting
[1]The station signed on September 10 as an NBC affiliate.
- 1953
Channel 11 authorization
[1]The WMBV-TV license for VHF channel 11 was approved for M & M Broadcasting Company, with Marinette as the initial city of license.
Products and positioning
Local Fox affiliate centered on northeastern Wisconsin news, weather, community coverage, and Green Bay Packers programming.
Local television news
FOX 11 News
WLUK's local news service covers Green Bay, Appleton, northeastern Wisconsin, breaking news, public safety, politics, community affairs, sports, and weather. News output is distributed through television broadcasts and the station's digital platforms.
Lifestyle television · 2008
Living with Amy
A weekday lifestyle program introduced in 2008 and associated with host Amy Hanten. The format combines cooking, household and lifestyle material, and paid business spotlight segments for the local audience.
Sports programming
Inside the Huddle
A Packers-focused program providing previews, reviews, and analysis around Green Bay games. It is part of WLUK's broader sports identity as the market's Fox affiliate and principal local outlet for many Packers telecasts.
Sports broadcasting · 1995
Green Bay Packers broadcasts
Fox's NFC rights made WLUK a key local home for Green Bay Packers games beginning with the 1995 affiliation change. The station has also carried Packers-related specials and additional games under later syndication arrangements.
Brand decisions
2016
Additional Packers football syndicationOtherBackground
NBC's Olympic programming affected carriage of the 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, while Sinclair sought additional local Packers-related inventory.
Action taken
WLUK and Sinclair announced a winning bid for local syndication of ESPN's Monday Night Football Packers games for multiple years.
Aftermath
The arrangement was intended to provide at least ten Packers games per season when combined with Fox rights, subject to league scheduling and cross-flexing.
2014
Sale to Sinclair Broadcast GroupM&ABackground
LIN Media's planned merger with Media General created overlapping ownership involving WBAY-TV and the WLUK–WCWF combination.
Action taken
Media General selected WLUK and WCWF for sale to Sinclair in order to address FCC ownership requirements.
Aftermath
Sinclair completed the purchase on December 19, 2014, and became WLUK's owner.
2011
Acquisition of WCWFM&ABackground
LIN had already provided operational and sales services to the Green Bay CW affiliate, which was described as economically non-viable under the relevant FCC ownership framework.
Action taken
LIN purchased WCWF under a failing-station waiver, pairing it with WLUK.
Aftermath
The transaction created the Green Bay market's first legal television duopoly.
1995
Adopted Fox affiliationStrategyBackground
Fox was expanding its station network while acquiring National Football Conference television rights, including rights that were especially valuable in the Green Bay market.
Action taken
WLUK changed from NBC to Fox on August 28, exchanging affiliations with WGBA-TV.
Aftermath
The change made Packers football a central part of WLUK's programming and commercial positioning.
Recent events
- 2016
WLUK and Sinclair obtain local rights for Packers Monday Night Football simulcasts[1]
Product launch · Other
WLUK and Sinclair announced a winning bid for local syndication of ESPN's Monday Night Football games involving the Packers. The arrangement was intended to supplement the station's substantial Fox Packers inventory.
- 2014
LIN Media sells WLUK-TV and WCWF to Sinclair Broadcast Group[1]
M&A · Regulation
Sinclair agreed to acquire WLUK and WCWF as part of a wider station transaction associated with the LIN Media and Media General merger and required market ownership divestitures.
- 1995
WLUK-TV changes from NBC to Fox[1]
Other
WLUK became a Fox affiliate on August 28, 1995, switching affiliations with WGBA-TV. The change was closely linked to Fox's acquisition of National Football Conference broadcast rights and made Packers programming a major part of the station's identity.
Sources1 sources
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